Pre-loaded electrical connecting device

ABSTRACT

Pre-loaded electrical connector comprises a housing having a row of slotted plate-type electrical terminals therein. A conductor stuffer, which is part of the housing, is slidably mounted in surrounding relationship to the row of terminals. The stuffer has conductor receiving slots in which the ends of conductors are positioned. Upon movement of the stuffer in the direction of the row of terminals, the conductors are moved laterally of their axes into the slots in the terminals and are thereby to be connected to the terminals.

United States Patent [191 Aldridge et al. I l

[ Apr. 30, 1974 PRE-LOADED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE 75 Inventors: Lionel Dennis Aldridge, Seminole; Edward Dennman Brunnell, Palm impgb ih fl'le [73] Assignee: AMP' Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. [22] Filed: Apr. 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 352,170

[52] US. Cl 339/99 R 51 Int. Cl H0lr 9/08 58 1 Field of Search 339/95, 97-99 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10/1970 Germany 339/97 R 12/1964 Wahl 339/98 Primary Examiner-Joseph H. McGlynn [57] ABSTRACT Pre-loaded electrical connector comprises a housing having a row of slotted plate-type electrical terminals therein. A conductor stuffer, which is part of the housing, is slidably mounted in surrounding relationship to the row of terminals. The stuffer has conductor receiving slots in which the ends of conductors are positioned. Upon movement of the stuffer in the direction of the row of terminals, the conductors are moved laterally of their axes into the slots in the terminals and are thereby to be connected to the terminals.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PRE-LOADED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to the achievement of a pre-loaded electrical connecting device which permits the formation of electrical connections between theples of the invention can be used in the manufacture of) other types of electrical devices and multi-contact electrical connectors. I

The term pre-loaded electrical connector is herein used to define a connector which-is pre-loaded with electrical contact terminals to which conductors are to be connected. The instant invention is particularly directed to the achievement of a preloaded connector having terminals which have slotted plate-type conductor receiving portions such that a wire or other conductor can be connected to an individual terminal by moving the wire laterally of its axis and to the slot in the plate portion of the terminal.

Pre-loadedelectrical connecting devices having slotted plate-type terminals are known to the art; see, for example, application Ser. No. 147,569 which discloses a multi-contact connector which is adapted to have its terminals connected to wires or other conductors by relatively specialized conductor insertion tools and the U. S. Pat. to Levin No. 3,012,219 which shows a relatively simple device for electrically connecting two wires to each other in a semi-permanent connection.

In accordance with the present invention, a multicontact connecting device is provided which permits the simultaneous connection of a plurality of terminals in the connector. A significant feature of connecting devices in accordance with the invention is that the connections can be made rapidly and effectively without the use of specialized application tools and by a relatively unskilled technician.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved pre-loaded electrical connector. A further object is to provide a connector which does not require specialized tooling for forming electrical connections between the terminals of the connector and external conductors. A further object is to provide a pre-loaded electrical connector which is of relatively-simple construction and which is capable of being connected to conductors with a minimum of skill and in a relatively short time.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a preferred embodiment thereof which is briefly described in the foregoing abstract, which is described in detail below and which is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of an electrical connector in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the connector of FIG. 1 showing the positions of the parts prior to the fonnation of electrical connections between the terminals in the connector and external conductors.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the positions of the parts after the electrical connections have been formed.

The disclosed embodiment of the invention is intended to connect conventional insulated wires 2 to conductors 4 on the underside of a printed circuit board 6. This embodiment comprises a generally rectangular insulating housing 8 in which are mounted a plurality of electrical contact terminals 10. As shown in FIG. 2, each terminal has an intermediate portion 12 which is firmly mounted in the housing 8, a post portion 14 which extends beyond the lower side 16 of the housing and is adapted to be inserted through a hole in the printed circuit board 6 and soldered to a conductor 4 as shown. A conductor receiving portion 18 extends upwardly as viewed in the drawing beyond the upper side l9 of the housing and has a plate-like portion 20 on its end in which there is provided a conductor receiving slot 22.

The contact terminals 10 are arranged in a row in the housing with all of the plate-like portions 20 extending in the same direction, towards the right as viewed in FIG. 1. Flanges 24 having inwardly turned upper ends are provided along the edges of the upper side 19 and an car 26 extends upwardly on the righthand side of the housing as shown. A power screw 28 is threaded through this ear for engagement with a stuffer member 30 for purposes described below.

The stufl'er portion 30 of the housing is generally channel-shaped having a web 32 and sidewalls 34 on the ends of which are provided outwardly directed flanges or feet 36. This stuffer portion has spaced apart slots 38 extending through its web portion 32 and partially into its sidewalls 34. These slots are spaced apart by the same distance as the terminals l0 and each slot is of a width such that it is able to receive a wire 2.

The terminals 10 are advantageously manufactured by stamping and forming any suitable conductive metal and the housing can be of any suitable plastic material. The stuffer member 30 should be of a relatively hard and strong plastic, .such as a glass filled nylon, so that it will be capable of forcing the wires 2 into the slots 22 of the terminals.

Prior to the formation of the electrical connections with the wires 2, the stuffer member 30 is disposed as shown in FIG. 3 on the surface 19 of the housing and against the side 40 of the ear 26, with the feet 36 extending beneath the inwardly turned portions of the flanges 24. The plate-like portions 20 of the terminals are between the sidewalls 34 and between adjacent slots 38. It will be noted that the terminals have a relatively close fit between the sidewalls and that they are supported against buckling by the sidewalls when the connections are formed as described immediately below. It will also be apparent from the drawing that the inner ends 39 of the slots 38 are located such that a wire 2 positioned in one of the slots 38 will be centrally located with reference to the slot 22 of the adjacent terminal.

To form the electrical connections, the wires are positioned in the slots 38 and the screw 28 is then turned inwardly against the end of the stufler member to drive the stuffer member leftwardly unti it is in the position of FIG. 3. During such movement of the stuffer member, the portions of the wires contained in the slots will be moved leftwardly laterally of their axes and into the slots 22 of the plate-like members 20 of the terminals. During such movement, the edges of the slots will penetrate the insulation of the wires to establish the electrical connections.

It will be apparent that a variety of embodiments in accordance with the principles of the invention can be provided as needed. For example, while the terminals of the disclosed embodiment have simple stamped plates as conductor-receiving portions 20, these conductor receiving portions can also take the form of reversely folded plate-like sections as shown in the U. S. Pat. to George Patton No. 3,617,983 so as to provide two slots in each terminal for redundant engagement with the wires. The principles of the invention can also be employed for many alternative types of electrical devices such as relays or switches, and alternative types of multi-contact electrical and connectors. Other types of force multipliers might be used or the stufier member might be adopted to be moved over the surface 19 with a readily available tool such as the blade of a screw driver. Finally, the conductors 2 might take the form of the flat ribbon-like conductors of a flat conductor cable.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparent different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only.

What is claimed is:

l. A pre-loaded multi-contact electrical device such as a multi-contact electrical connector, said device comprising:

an insulating housing,

a plurality of electrical contact terminals in said housing, each of said terminals having a plate-like conductor-receiving portion, each of said plate like portions having a conductor-receiving slot extending inwardly from one edge thereof, said plate-like portions of said terminals being arranged in a row in a common plane with said slots directed toward one end of said row,

a wire stuffer means on said housing, said wire-stuffer means being in surrounding relationship to said slots in said plate-like portions and being slidable, with respect to said housing, towards said one end of said housing,

said wire stuffer means having openings extending therethrough for reception of wires, said openings extending normally of said plate-like portions, said openings being normally disposed between said plate-like portions,

upon locating a wire in each of said openings and upon relative movement of said stuffer means towards said one end of said housing until said openings intersect said slots, said wires will be moved laterally of their axes and into said slots, and edge portions of said slots will engage, and establish electrical contact with, said wires.

2. An electrical device as set forth in claim 1, said openings comprising slots in said stufier means.

3. A pre-loaded multi-contact electrical device such as a multi-contact electrical connector, said device comprising:

an insulating housing, a plurality of electrical contact terminals in said housing, each of said terminals having a plate-like conductor-receiving portion, said plate-like portions having first conductorreceiving slots extending inwardly from one edge thereof, said plate-like portions of said terminals being arranged in a row in a common plane with said slots directed toward one end of said row,

said housing having a wire stufier portion, said wire stufi'er portion having an elongated groove therein, said plate-like portions of said terminals being in said groove,

a plurality of conductor-receiving slots in said stuffer portion, said conductor-receiving slots extending transversely of said row and intersecting said groove,

said plate-like portions of said terminals being normally disposed between said second conductorreceiving slots of said wire stuffer portion of said housing, and said wire stuffer portion of said housing being movable in the direction of said row relative to said plate-like portions of said terminals whereby,

upon locating a conductor in each of said conductor receiving slots, and upon relative movement of said stuffer portion in the direction of said row until said plate-like portions are in said conductor-receiving slots, said conductors will be forced relatively into said first conductor-receiving slots of said plate-like portions of said terminals and edge portions of said first slots will penetrate the insulation of said conductors and establish electrical contact therewith.

4. A connecting device as set forth in claim 3, said device having force multiplying means for moving said stuffer portion in the direction of said row relative to said plate-like portions of said contact terminals.

5. A connecting device as set forth in claim 3, said stuffer portion being generally channel-shaped and having a web and sidewalls, said elongated groove being defined by said sidewalls, said conductorreceiving slots extending through said web and partially into said sidewalls.

6. A connecting device as set forth in claim 5 including force-multiplying means for moving said stuffer portion relative to said plate-like portions of said terminals.

7. A connecting device as set forth in claim 6, said force multiplying means comprising a power screw threaded through a portion of said housing and bearing against one end of said stuffer portion.

8. A connecting device as set forth in claim 3, said device comprising a multi-contact electrical connector, said contact terminals having contact portions integral with said plate-like portions.

9. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 8, said contact portions comprising contact posts extending from said housing.

10. A pre-loaded multi-contact electrical device comprising:

an insulating housing,

a plurality of electrical contact terminals in said housing, each of said terminals having a plate-like conductor-receiving portion, each of said conductor-receiving portions having a conductorreceiving slot extending inwardly from one edge thereof, said plate-like portions being arranged in a row in a common plane and in the same orientation so that said slots extend in the same direction,

a generally channel-shaped wire stuffer having a web and sidewalls, said stuffer having a plurality of notches therein extending into said web and partially into said sidewalls, said notches being spaced 6 axial movement of said stuffer relative to said conductor-receiving portions, said wires will be moved laterally of their axes into said conductor-receiving slots in said terminals, and edge portions-of said slots will penetrate the insulation of said wires and establish electrical contact therewith.

51 9 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (IICH'I'IFHIA'IIC ()l" (IUIHHHI'IIUN Patent No. 3808582 Dated April 30, 1974 LIONEL DENNIS ALDRIDGE & EDWARD DENNMAN BUNNELL It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title page, item Inventors: reads Edward Dennman 'Brunnell" but should read Edward Dennman Bunnell.

Column 4, Claim 3, line 12 the word "second" should be deleted.

8" ed and sealed this 10th day of September 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A pre-loaded multi-contact electrical device such as a multicontact electrical connector, said device comprising: an insulating housing, a plurality of electrical contact terminals in said housing, each of said terminals having a plate-like conductor-receiving portion, each of said plate like portions having a conductorreceiving slot extending inwardly from one edge thereof, said plate-like portions of said terminals being arranged in a row in a common plane with said slots directed toward one end of said row, a wire stuffer means on said housing, said wire-stuffer means being in surrounding relationship to said slots in said platelike portions and being slidable, with respect to said housing, towards said one end of said housing, said wire stuffer means having openings extending therethrough for reception of wires, said openings extending normally of said plate-like portions, said openings being normally disposed between said plate-like portions, upon locating a wire in each of said openings and upon relative movement of said stuffer means towards said one end of said housing until said openings intersect said slots, said wires will be moved laterally of their axes and into said slots, and edge portions of said slots will engage, and establish electrical contact with, said wires.
 2. An electrical device as set forth in claim 1, said openings comprising slots in said stuffer means.
 3. A pre-loaded multi-contact electrical device such as a multi-contact electrical connector, said device comprising: an insulating housing, a plurality of electrical contact terminals in said housing, each of said terminals having a plate-like conductor-receiving portion, said plate-like portions having first conductor-receiving slots extending inwardly from one edge thereof, said plate-like portions of said terminals being arranged in a row in a common plane with said slots directed toward one end of said row, said housing having a wire stuffer portion, said wire stuffer portion having an elongated groove therein, said plate-like portions of said terminals being in said groove, a plurality of conductor-receiving slots in said stuffer portion, said conductor-receiving slots extending transversely of said row and intersecting said groove, said plate-like portions of said terminals being normally disposed between said second conductor-receiving slots of said wire stuffer portion of said housing, and said wire stuffer portion of said housing being movable in the direction of said row relative to said plate-like portions of said terminals whereby, upon locating a conductor in each of said conductor receiving slots, and upon relative movement of said stuffer portion in the direction of said row until said plate-like portions are in said conductor-receiving slots, said conductors will be forced relatively into said first conductor-receiving slots of said plate-like portions of said terminals and edge portions of said first slots will penetrate the insulation of said conducTors and establish electrical contact therewith.
 4. A connecting device as set forth in claim 3, said device having force multiplying means for moving said stuffer portion in the direction of said row relative to said plate-like portions of said contact terminals.
 5. A connecting device as set forth in claim 3, said stuffer portion being generally channel-shaped and having a web and sidewalls, said elongated groove being defined by said sidewalls, said conductor-receiving slots extending through said web and partially into said sidewalls.
 6. A connecting device as set forth in claim 5 including force-multiplying means for moving said stuffer portion relative to said plate-like portions of said terminals.
 7. A connecting device as set forth in claim 6, said force multiplying means comprising a power screw threaded through a portion of said housing and bearing against one end of said stuffer portion.
 8. A connecting device as set forth in claim 3, said device comprising a multi-contact electrical connector, said contact terminals having contact portions integral with said plate-like portions.
 9. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 8, said contact portions comprising contact posts extending from said housing.
 10. A pre-loaded multi-contact electrical device comprising: an insulating housing, a plurality of electrical contact terminals in said housing, each of said terminals having a plate-like conductor-receiving portion, each of said conductor-receiving portions having a conductor-receiving slot extending inwardly from one edge thereof, said plate-like portions being arranged in a row in a common plane and in the same orientation so that said slots extend in the same direction, a generally channel-shaped wire stuffer having a web and sidewalls, said stuffer having a plurality of notches therein extending into said web and partially into said sidewalls, said notches being spaced apart by the same amount as said conductor-receiving portions, said wire stuffer being slidably mounted on said housing with said plate-like portions disposed between said sidewalls, and with each said plate-like portion being between two adjacent notches whereby, upon locating a wire in each of said notches and upon axial movement of said stuffer relative to said conductor-receiving portions, said wires will be moved laterally of their axes into said conductor-receiving slots in said terminals, and edge portions of said slots will penetrate the insulation of said wires and establish electrical contact therewith. 